So it’s no surprise that Dubai, and thus the whole Middle East, is the location for the third edition of the Internet of Things World Forum (IoTWF), previously held in Barcelona and Chicago. Both former host cities showed off their Smart City initiatives and Internet of Things capabilities, and the same will be the case with Dubai, which has launched its initiative to be the smartest city by 2017.

GE is one of the key sponsors of the event, with a keynote address by Bill Ruh, CEO of GE Digital and GE’s Chief Digital Officer, entitled “Fueling Innovation for Operational and Energy Efficiency with IoT.”

While many aspects of the Internet of Things universe will be discussed during the forum, most sessions will explore an issue that’s central to GE’s own transformation into a digital-industrial company: the power of the Industrial Internet of Things to enhance industry and industrial-scale enterprises. This is no surprise, given that the economic value of the Industrial Internet of Really Big Things could be worth more than twice the consumer Internet by 2025.

Ruh will explore the growing importance of the industrial Internet, service transformation, new business models, and the effects each will have on industry in the decade ahead.

From power and water, healthcare, and oil and gas, to manufacturing and transportation, the Industrial Internet has the potential to make a big impact. GE estimates that in the region, Industrial Internet applications could generate as much as $800 million in additional GDP growth between now and 2030. Globally, the boost could be $15 trillion during that period.

Today, regional companies, infrastructure operators and governments are turning to the Industrial Internet of Things to address their urgent needs to operate more productively and efficiently in order to conserve vital resources and lower environmental impacts, improve performance and productivity, and serve customers better.

The IoTWF 2015, which expects to welcome 1,500 IoT professionals, also features